"We have received reports from our scouts in the Hadarac desert." Nasuada began, letting her gaze sweep over the congregation before her. Eragon, Arya, and Jormundar. "Reports that the natives there believe that Eragon is flying about the Hadarc, killing the slavers and the empire's soldiers that move through there."
"What?" Eragon exclaimed. Arya's eyes narrowed and Jormundar looked at Eragon in alarm at his outburst. "I haven't even been near the slavers since Murtagh and I crossed the desert!"
"Exactly." Nasuada said, nodding in his direction. "That's why I want Eragon to go and see what is behind these rumors."
"Why do you think they even need to be verified?" Asked Jormundar. "Surely they are just rumors."
"That's what we thought at first." Sighed Nasuada. "But then one of our scouts also reported finding the remains of several slavers, all killed by what could only have been an experienced fighter. There were also signs of massive tracks, tracks like Saphira's."
"Could it have been Thorn and Murtagh?" Eragon asked.
"They would never go after slavers, not while they are under Galbatorix's influence." Arya said, shaking her head. Looking back at Nasuada, she continued. "There is a chance of an egg having gone unnoticed during the fall, but the chances are next to none."
"I know." Agreed Nasuada. "So will you go?"
"Of course." Eragon said without hesitation. Two hours later, Eragon, Saphira, and Arya were flying out over the camp of the Varden towards the Hadarac desert.
Exire looked up from cleaning his spear tip in time to see Darad land in a cloud of sand.
How was your hunt? He asked, turning back to his cleaning. Darad snorted and kicked his talons.
Fruitful. He replied briefly. Darad was never one for many words.
I heard word that a group of the empires soldiers will be moving through the canyons to strike the Vardan. Exire began, satisfied that his spear blades were cleaned. Darad blinked at this, looking in the direction he spoke of.
How many?
Hard to tell, but it couldn't be more then a hundred to come this far in the desert; otherwise their supply wagons would have been spotted long ago. Darad agreed.
Shall we hunt them tomorrow then?
I don't see why not. Said Exire, grinning as he used magic to split his spear in half and sliding it into the holders he had fashioned on the saddle now strapped to Darad's back as he mounted his shoulders. Where do you feel like sleeping tonight/
I found a hill; on one side the stones still hold the sun's warmth. Replied Darad, spreading his translucent wings and tacking off in a billow of sand.
Sounds like a good idea. Exire agreed. That night, Exire slept with his head propped up on his dragon's tail, while Darad lay wrapped about him, one wing stretched over him. As Exire slept, he dreamed of his home in the small village surrounding the hidden oasis of the Hadarac. He remembered his small house where he had lived alone, until he had met Cassandra, the reason he was hunting out here now.
Darad watched as his rider slept beneath his wing, then with a heavy sigh, he turned to look up at the crescent moon overhead. As he gazed at the silver light, he recalled the day he had hatched for Exire. It had been five years ago, on a hot burning day. Exire had found him in the secret tunnels he and Cassandra had discovered that ran under the desert. He had hatched there, and had been hidden there. Exire and Cassandra had kept him there, caring for him as he grew. He bowed his head as he recalled the incidents that had driven he and his rider from the peaceful village. Resting his head on his tail, Darad blinked a few times, then closed his eyes, falling asleep.
The morning found them setting out for the canyons to the west, the silver dragon soaring effortlessly over the sandy waste land. Exire was crouched low over Darad's neck, scanning ahead with his mind for any sign of the traveling caravan of soldiers. It did not take more then a few hours for the two to reach the canyons, where Darad landed on the rim of the canyon, peering down at the ground below.
"Good." Murmured Exire, slipping off Darad's back and taking the pieces of his spear out, repairing it with a single word. "We got here before him."
What is your plan? Asked Darad, still peering down both sides of the canyon.
If we strike them from above, they wont be expecting it. Began Exire. And, if you roar while were attacking, it'll echo about the canyon, causing panic just like in the caves. Darad, do you think you could gather up some boulders and put them at the edge of the canyon in a pile?
Yes. Replied Darad. Without another word, he turned and strode to the nearest boulder. Rearing on his hind legs, he gripped the stone with his talons, lifting it up and using his wings to move towards the rim where he set it down.
Perfect! Grinned Exire, looking up from the canyon to see Darad nudge the stone closer to the edge with his snout. Two more should do it. Darad grunted in acknowledgment, before going off to find two more. Exire watched for a moment as his dark silver dragon strode away, and then crouched down by the canyon edge again, looking down and tossing a stone over the edge. He watched as it fell, counting how long it took. Thirty seconds. It was a long way down.
Exire, they are here. Warned Darad a few moments later when he returned with a second boulder. Exire got to his feet, holding his spear and gripping the shaft.
"Right." He said, looking down the trail at the bottom of the canyon where a dust plume had appeared. "Lets get ready."
It took a fair amount of time for the marching column to reach the point underneath Darad and Exire, and even when they reached them, the rider and dragon waited for them to pass on a bit. It was a group of at least seventy armed men, each holding a glittering pike with a sword at his belt. Exire also noticed pack animals at the rear, left unguarded and trailing behind. He snorted in disgust at how carelessly the empire moved through the Hadarac. He would have thought they would have taken precautions to guard themselves better ever since he and Darad had picked up their raids.
Almost, almost, Exire cautioned, shifting in his saddle. Darad growled in readiness. The adrenaline began to run, preparing the two for the fight. NOW! Darad arched his neck, snarling and drawing it out into a thunderous roar that shook the pebbles on either side of him. Rearing up, he leapt off the cliff, striking the piled up boulders with his tail and sending them down beside him.
The men below began shouting and running about in a panic, their retreat cut off by the fallen stones. Darad landed with a crash in front of them, blocking any chance of escape. The men froze for a moment, staring in horror at the massive dark silver dragon who glared down at them, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. Then, he let loose with a jet of white flame that scorched the sides of the rock walls.
Exire slide effortlessly from Darad's back, landing in a cloud of dust and running towards the men who had survived the inferno. They tried to lift their weapons to defend themselves, but Exire penetrated their defenses with no difficulty. Behind him stormed Darad, killing any Exire left in his wake. There weren't many. It was not long before the two stood alone, surrounded by the bodies of the soldiers.
Darad looked over as Exire approached the startled pack horses, a caravan of donkeys. He began removing the packs of food and supplies from them, leaving the ones full of weapons and armor on the ground. Taking out a length of rope from one of the packs, he lashed together the packs and sent the donkeys on past Darad, who snarled at them as they ran by, watching with amusement as they scrambled away from him.
Exire looked up and grinned, standing.
"You giving them a head start for once?" he teased. "Or are you just to lazy?" Darad turned his gaze on Exire, narrowing his eyes and growling playfully.
Watch yourself. He replied. I'm your only way out of here.
"True." sighed Exire, chuckling as he strode over to Darad's side. Easily, he climbed up Darad's offered leg, separating his spear in half again and slipping it into the holds. "Alright, home then?"
Home then. Agreed Darad. He reared back, reaching forward with his talons and carefully picking up the pack of supplies and taking off with a power stroke, once more taking to the sky.
I love flying. Hummed Darad. Exire smiled as he felt the freedom of flight flooding off his companion. He reached forward and patted his friend on the shoulder.
A/N- I now in the first chapter I said Darad was an ice blue dragon, but I changed it to a dark silver, like polished steel. I didn't want him to be two similar to Saphira